Midwestern storms rattle survivors of Alabama tornadoes

Residents of Joplin, Mo, survey the damage of their homes and city on Monday.

The Associated Press

By Jay ReevesThe Associated Press

Published: Monday, May 23, 2011 at 6:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, May 23, 2011 at 4:57 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA (AP) — Willie Walker is still trying to put a new roof on his house because of the wave of tornadoes that killed more than 230 people across Alabama last month, but he took time Monday to do what he could for victims of twisters that killed scores in the Midwest.

"We're praying for those people," said Walker, a retired Marine, as workers stripped the remaining tar paper off his roof before a new layer went on. "We know what they're going through because we've been there already."

Nerves remain raw in Alabama from the storms that ravaged much of the Southeast on April 27. The storms killed more than 300 people and damaged thousands of homes and businesses across the region, so news of the devastation in Joplin, Mo., hit hard for people still repairing their homes or mourning the loss of friends and relatives. As of Monday afternoon, at least 116 people had been killed in the Joplin twister.

Eight people died just up the street from where Sherman James raked away limbs and pine needles left by the tornado that killed 41 people in Tuscaloosa, and battered homes sit empty and broken all over his neighborhood. Yet James couldn't get the people of Missouri off his mind.

"It sounds like they got it worse than we did," said James, who manages a group home for youth. "My heart just goes out to them."

Officials say 58 tornadoes touched down across Alabama during the daylong outbreak almost four weeks ago, leaving a path of damage that would stretch in a line 610 miles long and 10 miles wide if all the tracks were combined into one. Search teams with cadaver-sniffing dogs spent hours checking for human remains in Herman Hallman's neighborhood after the twister left the landscape littered with rubble and trees, so he knew exactly what was happening in the Midwest as he sat outside his home, which lost its roof and windows.

"They're still trying to figure out how many people are dead," he said. "It's sad."

In a month, Joplin will be where Tuscaloosa is now. Walker said the days will pass amazingly fast.

"You don't have time to think when you're working all the time," said the Marine.

The time will also come soon when Midwesterners can look ahead, Walker said. He's already planning a cookout for his neighbors in Alabama.

"We'll have people over here, barbecue and talk about the way it used to be," he said.

<p>TUSCALOOSA (AP) — Willie Walker is still trying to put a new roof on his house because of the wave of tornadoes that killed more than 230 people across Alabama last month, but he took time Monday to do what he could for victims of twisters that killed scores in the Midwest.</p><p>"We're praying for those people," said Walker, a retired Marine, as workers stripped the remaining tar paper off his roof before a new layer went on. "We know what they're going through because we've been there already."</p><p>Nerves remain raw in Alabama from the storms that ravaged much of the Southeast on April 27. The storms killed more than 300 people and damaged thousands of homes and businesses across the region, so news of the devastation in Joplin, Mo., hit hard for people still repairing their homes or mourning the loss of friends and relatives. As of Monday afternoon, at least 116 people had been killed in the Joplin twister.</p><p>Eight people died just up the street from where Sherman James raked away limbs and pine needles left by the tornado that killed 41 people in Tuscaloosa, and battered homes sit empty and broken all over his neighborhood. Yet James couldn't get the people of Missouri off his mind.</p><p>"It sounds like they got it worse than we did," said James, who manages a group home for youth. "My heart just goes out to them."</p><p>Officials say 58 tornadoes touched down across Alabama during the daylong outbreak almost four weeks ago, leaving a path of damage that would stretch in a line 610 miles long and 10 miles wide if all the tracks were combined into one. Search teams with cadaver-sniffing dogs spent hours checking for human remains in Herman Hallman's neighborhood after the twister left the landscape littered with rubble and trees, so he knew exactly what was happening in the Midwest as he sat outside his home, which lost its roof and windows.</p><p>"They're still trying to figure out how many people are dead," he said. "It's sad."</p><p>In a month, Joplin will be where Tuscaloosa is now. Walker said the days will pass amazingly fast.</p><p>"You don't have time to think when you're working all the time," said the Marine.</p><p>The time will also come soon when Midwesterners can look ahead, Walker said. He's already planning a cookout for his neighbors in Alabama.</p><p>"We'll have people over here, barbecue and talk about the way it used to be," he said.</p>